Yours Cruelly, Elvira

Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark

By: Cassandra Peterson

Narrated by: Cassandra Peterson

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells - and told by the bombshell herself.

On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns covered 35 percent of her body, and the prognosis wasn't good. But she survived. Burned and scarred, the impact stayed with her and became an obstacle she was determined to overcome. Feeling like a misfit led to her love of horror. While her sisters played with Barbie dolls, Cassandra played with model kits of Frankenstein and Dracula and idolized Vincent Price.

Due to a complicated relationship with her mother, Cassandra left home at 14, and by age 17 she was performing at the famed Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Run-ins with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Jones helped her grow up fast. Then a chance encounter with her idol Elvis Presley changed the course of her life forever and led her to Europe, where she worked in film and traveled Italy as lead singer of an Italian pop band. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she joined the famed comedy improv troupe The Groundlings and worked alongside Phil Hartman and Paul "Pee-wee" Reubens, honing her comedic skills.

Nearing age 30, a struggling actress considered past her prime, she auditioned at local LA channel KHJ as hostess for the late-night vintage horror movies. Cassandra improvised, made the role her own, and got the job on the spot. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn't shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry, and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often funny, and sometimes heartbreaking tale of a Midwest farm girl's long, strange trip to become the world's sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Cassandra Peterson (P)2021 Hachette Books

Chapter 14 cut off

This is an amazing book, and the audiobook is performed by Cassandra which is a major plus. The only issue is that the end of chapter 14 is cut off mid sentence. Hopefully this will be corrected soon and updated. I’ve contacted Audible support to make them aware of it. Thankfully I also have the hardback version so I can see what happened.

Charming, Touching, Cassandra Peterson Doesn’t Hold Anything Back in This Fascinating Tale of her Entire Life

As someone who met Cassandra as a child and looked at her as a mother-like figure, I couldn’t stop myself from pre-ordering this book from Premiere Collectables, but of course, I lack patience, so I also downloaded the audio book to listen to until the physical copy arrived. She went into such detail about her life, relationships with others, and feelings that it felt like she was sitting here just talking to me, as a friend. I’d knew of some details presented, but so much was suddenly coming to the surface, it made me realize how Cassandra was shaped as a human being, and explained why she likely showed such kindness to me every time I ran into her throughout the years. She’s truly an amazing individual, and I know she’s been working on this book for over a decade, and I can safely say that the wait was beyond worth it. It made me tear up, laugh, and smile, all while reminding me why I’d come to love Cassandra and the Mistress of the Dark, Elvira. I whole heartedly recommend this book. 💞

One Of The Best Memoirs

Totally unexpected, this memoir reveals a funny, sensitive, smart and clever woman beneath the Elivira persona. She is not only a gifted writer, but her very personal and delightful narration make this book a listening pleasure.

I loved the events and encounters with so many well-known celebrities, they were all so fascinating. I was truly impressed by her vulnerability and honesty, as well as her prodigious memory! I was duly impressed by her wonderful unabashed sexuality that at once was revealing and charming.

I remember watching her on TV and maybe I saw the movie, but I simply must watch it again. This woman is a lovely, totally cool person who I loved getting to know from this insightful and entertaining memoir.

Cassandra is an inspiration for all females in the

Cassandra is the inspiration for all females in the entertainment industry. The struggle is as real as her tits. thank you for writing this and for being who you are!

wow

incredible story. she is so smart and well spoken. this is a must listen 👍

you are loved Cassandra

What a truly wonderful book. It only made me love her more! Thank you for writing this.

absolutely amazing!!

I loved every moment of this book. Even the moments that I felt my heart was breaking. The author's narration is wonderfully executed. I've been recommending this to all of my friends even before I was finished. A wonderful insight into the life of such an amazing legend.

AWESOME 👍

what a great listen. So fun and entertaining. Now I have to binge watch everything she's referred to and ⭐ in!!!

it's Elvira, duh!

i knew I was going to relate to at least some of this story, but I never imagined how much of it would hit home. even the parts that I'd no experience with, were still deeply moving.

Enthralling and Capitivating

loved listening to Cassandra Petersons voice and he brought me through her journey! what a ride!